close ranks

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close ranks (third-person singular simple present closes ranks, present participle closing ranks, simple past and past participle closed ranks)

1. (military) To close the spacing between lines (ranks) of troops, as they are deployed across a battlefield, thereby decreasing the depth of the formation as it faces the enemy side.
2. (figuratively) To regroup forces, especially when this involves overlooking differences in order to face a challenge or adverse situation. Often implies making a show of unity, especially to the public.
3. (figuratively) To maintain silence and secrecy in the face of some external threat.
   • 2007, Gina Marchetti, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Infernal Affairs:

     However, the charges that the police closed ranks to protect Godber find a parallel in Wong's hearings.

   • 2020 September 3, Kim Willsher, “French reporter who joined police exposes racism and violence”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     Gendrot describes a “clannish” system that ensures officers close ranks to protect their own, leading to a sense of impunity.

   • 2023 March 6, Adrian Fulford, R v Wayne Couzens, sentencing remarks‎, Paragraph 27:

     It cannot be suggested in my view that the Metropolitan Police, even for a moment, attempted to close ranks to protect one of their own. Instead, remorselessly, efficiently and impartially the investigating officers followed all the available leads, resulting in an overwhelming case against the accused.

• circle the wagons

• “close ranks”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “close ranks”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “close ranks” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “close ranks” (US) / “close ranks” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.